“I just think he’s taking the whole French schtick a little far. Don’t you?
“No, Jack. Idon’t. You know why? Because it’s not a schtick. HeisFrench.”
We pass under a stone arch with enough ivy draping down that I have to push some of it out of the way and hold it there for Siena to pass under. “Yeeeah, but he’s really milking it.” I straighten my shoulders and run a hand through my hair to make it slant to the side. “Oh, zis old zing?”I throw my hand carelessly toward the chateau.“Oui oui oui, I own it all one day. But of course.”
Siena slugs me with her elbow. “You’re so dumb.” But she’s laughing, which means I have no choice but to keep going.
“Butyou, madame”—I turn toward her and take her cardigan by both shoulders, pulling the sides together—“you are unlike anyzing I have ever seen.”I exaggerate the z’s and r’s as much as possible, looking into her eyes.“You are funny. Ravishingly beautiful. And verrry single.”
She grabs my hands, reluctantly laughing. “You’re a dork, and he doesn’t sound like that.”
“That’s definitely whatIheard.” My eyes flit to her smile. She’s got a killer one, and I can’t blame Philippe too much for being instantly attracted to her.Iwaswhen we first met.
Her smile wavers slightly, and I realize her hands are still on mine, and I’m still holding her cardigan. We haven’t been this close since—
I drop my hands, and she lets go of mine.
“You know who he reminds me of?” I say, brushing off the moment and walking toward our little cottage again. “Brad.”
“Who’s Brad?”
I raise my brows. “You must’ve kissed a lot of people in your life if you can’t even remember their names.”
It takes a second, but the frown on her brow clears. “Spin-the-bottle Brad?” She scoffs. “I don’t even count that as a kiss.”
Suddenly I’m left to wonder whether she countsourkiss as a kiss. And why the thought that she might not kind of bugs me.
We reach our door, and she pulls out the key.
“It’s a good thing I’m staying in here, you know,” I say. “I wouldn’t put it past Philippe to come sneaking to your window at night with champagne or something.”
Siena scoffs and opens the door. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“Am I? He was basically pushing me out of this place so I’d stay in the dungeon.”
“He literally only mentioned itonce, and it’s not really a dungeon. That’s just what they call the tower part of a chateau, which is technically the keep. Why are you being so weird about him? We want to be on good terms with the family, Jack. For Rémy and Madi’s sakes.”
“Riiiight,” I say with a knowing look. “Fortheirsakes.”
She rolls her eyes as we head inside.
9
SIENA
SEVEN YEARS AGO
Frankly,it’s ridiculous.
I’m sitting in a circle of college students with an empty bottle in the middle. The ratio of women to men is a solid 4 to 1. The odds were way better than this the last time I played spin the bottle, and even then, the girls weren’t looking at the men as hungrily as they are right now. The giggly girl Jack and I heard earlier, however, is not pleased. She probably thought she had things in the bag with Brad, and now she’s got competition.
Brad is in his element, tossing his wavy hair out of his face so often I worry he’s going to tweak that tan, beefy neck of his.
If I’m twelve o’clock, Jack is my six o’clock. He knows I don’t want to be here, which is exactly why he’s got the hint of a smile on those ridiculous lips. I have a feeling he’s going to be staring me down this entire time, relishing the way he flipped things around.
I’m hoping I get to spin the bottle and it lands on him, so I can kiss that stupid smile off his lips. Clearly, this desire is motivated entirely by malice, not by how attractive I find him.
And yet, I can’t keep from staring right back at him because, though I’d never admit it, this is the teensiest bit fun, and it feels almost like he and I are the only ones in the circle.
